My first taste of Life Under the Sun by the
Philadelphia-based band
Grandview was rather bitter. The music was great…the
lyrics looked awesome…I really wanted to like the album. And then Mitch Hood
sang…and the dog next door started howling. This is a true story. Now, much to
Mitch’s credit, the dog next door loves to sing, especially when the local
church bells are ringing. Mitch’s voice is a bit on the high-pitched side and I
don’t recommend listening to it when you are suffering from a headache as I was
on that date. That and the dog next door caused me to put the CD away for
another day, hoping that it was just my state of mind keeping me from liking Life Under the Sun.

The second time I tested the waters, I got through
three songs before putting the CD back into its case. I was definitely enjoying
the music, but Mitch Hood’s voice got to me again and I couldn’t listen to the
album without cringing. But, I am a dedicated person. Once I start something,
I do my best to see it through. And so, I popped the CD in a third time, hoping
that the old adage about the third time being the charm was true. I was
surprised. I started getting used to the lead singer’s voice. It was all
uphill from there.

Grandview’s style isn’t all that different from
the alternative music we hear on mainstream stations everywhere. What we hear
is guitars and drums - a combination found in many of the new bands hitting the
airwaves of late. However, it is the musical talent of Mitch Hood, Matt Middleton, and Josh Hood on guitars combined with the style and innovation of
Trevor
Hood on drums that make their sound just a tad different from the rest.

However, what really sets this band apart from
other alternative bands are their lyrics. The songs tell stories – intricate
stories that you can actually see in your mind’s eye. You can see the pain of
the couple depicted in the track Hands, trapped in a hell that they thought
they’d wanted and now are living to regret. The message in Fall Down is
abundantly clear. The lyrics are straight forward and easy to understand: “You
fall down. Scratch upon your face. Marks you with some wisdom and your rank in
life's long race. Pain makes us sound. And if you fall today, we'll remember
your name.” While I enjoy symbolism and respect the thinking process that goes
into symbolically written lyrics, there are times when I desire simplicity.
Grandview’s lyrics are intelligently written, yet simple enough to understand as
soon as you hear them. You don’t have to think back on them and say – oh yeah,
that’s what they were trying to say!

Life Under the Sun is mainly enjoyable for the
fact that the stories told in each song are about someone we can easily imagine
and relate to. The messages are easy to understand. And, at times, the lyrics
are wholly beautiful, as in the one love song Not Stopped Falling: “I'm sorry
that these words I write aren't worthy. This world's crack to heaven leaks your
beauty. But to call you beautiful would be insulting. Your the one I'd seen when
I was dreaming…It's your name, my hearts been calling. And since we've kissed,
I've not stopped falling. I'll stop time, we'll lie here sleeping. When your
close by, I stop breathing.”

My only complaint is a tad ironic, considering how
this review began. There are times during the album that the music tends to
drown out the vocals. I first noticed this during the title song Life Under the
Sun. It only occurs on two other songs, but, being a lyrics gal, I love hearing
the words.

To sum things up, Grandview music would do well
beside any other alternative rock band being played on mainstream radio. But
with intelligent, well-thought out, easy to relate to lyrics, this band rises to
the top of the heap. Life Under the Sun is definitely an album worth checking
out!